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New Zealand Travel Guide - Explore & Plan Your Trip

New Zealand Travel Guide - Explore & Plan Your Trip

Posted on June 2, 2023

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Tourism in New Zealand has taken a major leap in the last few years. The country is a world filled with magnificent landscapes, thriving Maori culture, and exhilarating activities known as New Zealand. This island nation, well-known for its gorgeous fjords, rolling hills, and beautiful mountains, offers a really exceptional and remarkable travel encounter. Whether you're a nature lover, an adrenaline addict, or a history buff, New Zealand has something for everyone. Get ready to have your dream vacation turn into reality with Pickyourtrail and have a blast! 

Facts about New Zealand

FactDetail
Official LanguageEnglish, Maori
CapitalWellington
CurrencyNew Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Area268,021 sq km
PopulationApproximately 5 million
Time ZoneNew Zealand Standard Time (UTC+12)
ClimateDiverse, ranging from subtropical to temperate and alpine
National SymbolKiwi bird
GeographyConsists of two main islands, North Island and South Island, with diverse landscapes including mountains, fjords, lakes, and beaches

Know More About New Zealand

  • Indigenous History: For over a thousand years, the Maori people have lived in New Zealand, adding to the country's unique cultural legacy.
  • European Arrival: The arrival of European explorers in the late 18th century, especially Captain James Cook, led to an increase in colonisation.
  • The Treaty of Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi established British rule and acknowledged Maori rights. It was signed in 1840.
  • Gold Rush: The 1860s gold discovery led to a wave of immigration, which changed the economic landscape of the nation.
  • Independence: New Zealand attained self-governance in 1852 and became a Dominion in 1907.
  • Social Reforms: In 1893, New Zealand was the first nation to implement progressive changes, such as women's suffrage.
  • Present: Today, New Zealand is a diverse, thriving country that welcomes tourists with its breathtaking natural beauty and warm hospitality.

How to Reach New Zealand from India

  • By Air: Travelling to New Zealand from India is convenient, thanks to multiple airlines providing direct and connecting flights on the following route. Major carriers including Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates provide regular service between Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai in India and Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand. The average duration of a flight between India and New Zealand is between 17 and 20 hours.
  • Other: There is no other convenient method to travel between both destinations

Best Time to Visit New Zealand

With a subtropical climate on the North Island and a colder temperature on the South Island, New Zealand has a varied range of climates. The ideal time to visit New Zealand depends on your tastes and the activities you want to partake in. The warmer months of December through February provide comfortable temperatures and are great for outdoor activities. For those who enjoy snow activities, the winter months of June to August are perfect, as ski resorts are also available to visit.

(Note:  these are approximate average temperatures figures and can vary each year)

MonthNorth Island (Average Temperature °C)South Island (Average Temperature °C)
January20 – 2518 – 23
February20 – 2517 – 22
March 18 – 2316 – 20
April15 – 2012 – 16
May12 – 178 – 12
June10 – 146 – 10
July9 – 135 – 9
August10 – 146 – 10
September12 – 178 – 12
October14 – 1910 – 14
November16 – 2112 – 16
December18 – 2315 – 19

New Zealand Visa for Indians

Visa process for Indians to obtain a New Zealand tourist visa is not a huge hassle if you follow the steps carefully. This visa allows you to travel to the country at ease. Below are the types of New Zealand visa for an Indian Passport holder.

  • Visitor visa 
  • Business visa 
  • Work visa 
  • Family visa 
  • Transit visa

Cost of New Zealand Tourist Visa for Indians 

Below is a table with cost of two types of visas for tourists. Also, check out the official New Zealand visa website for a better understanding.  

Visitor Visa Rs 7935 
Transit Visa Rs 6768

Travelling Around New Zealand

New Zealand has an excellent transport system, which makes it simple to travel across the nation. Here are a few popular methods of getting around New Zealand:

  • Rental Cars: By renting a car, you can travel at your own leisure and find hidden gems all across the nation.
  • Camper Vans: Travelling in a camper van, which serves as both a vehicle and a place to stay, offers the ultimate independence. For an enjoyable vacation, New Zealand has several campsites that are well-equipped.
  • Buses and Coaches: InterCity and GreatSights are famous bus services that connect major cities and tourist areas. They provide practical timetables and comfortable travel options.
  • Trains: New Zealand's picturesque rail routes, such the TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific, provide a charming way to experience the country's breathtaking scenery.
  • Domestic flights: Domestic flights are available between major cities if you are short on time or want a quick means of transportation.
  • Ferries: A gorgeous and enjoyable ride connects the North and South Islands via the Cook Strait boat service.

Places to Visit in New Zealand

  • Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
  • Abel Tasman National Park
  • Tongariro National Park
  • Bay of Islands
  • Queenstown
  • Rotorua
  • Mount Cook National Park
  • Franz Josef Glacier
  • Waiheke Island
  • Lake Tekapo
  • Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata
  • Wellington
  • Kaikoura
  • Coromandel Peninsula
  • Napier and Hawke's Bay
  • Nelson
  • Stewart Island
  • Mount Taranaki
  • Dunedin
  • The Catlins

Things to Do in New Zealand

  • Go for a Bungee jump from Queenstown's iconic Kawarau Bridge
  • Visit Waitomo's enchanted glowworm tunnels
  • Take a spectacular walk over volcanic terrain on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
  • Fly in a helicopter and enjoy the view of Franz Josef Glacier
  • Go kayaking in the beautiful waters of Abel Tasman National Park
  • Visit a typical Maori village to discover more about the culture
  • Take a cruise in the breathtaking Milford Sound to see its magnificent waterfalls
  • Take an exciting jet boat ride in Queenstown
  • Travel to Wellington and visit the lively Te Papa Museum
  • Bathe in Rotorua's natural hot springs
  • Visit Marlborough and take a wine tour, which is well-known for its Sauvignon Blanc
  • Watch whales in Kaikoura
  • Learn about Nelson's enchanting community and thriving cultural scene
  • Discover Wai-O-Tapu's geothermal marvels in Rotorua
  • Participate in adventurous activities like zorbing, skydiving, or white-water rafting
  • Unwind on the Coromandel Peninsula's gorgeous beaches
  • Take in the scenery as you travel the Great Ocean Road
  • On the east coast of the South Island, visit the unusual Moeraki Boulders
  • Visit seals, dolphins, and penguins by going on a wildlife cruise
  • Enjoy a traditional hangi feast while sampling authentic Maori food

Pick Your Trail to New Zealand

New Zealand is a place that perfectly combines adventure, natural beauty, and cultural legacy. New Zealand tourism creates a lasting impression on every traveller with its breathtaking landscapes and rich culture. Pack your bags, book New Zealand tour packages or book New Zealand honeymoon packages to travel with your loved one from Pickyourtrail, customize your New Zealand itinerary and let the wonders of New Zealand unravel before your eyes.

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Bhabatosh Bisi-Profile

Bhabatosh Bisi

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

Thoroughly enjoyed our family vacation arranged through the Pickyourtrail team. Pooja from sales, and later, stood out for personalizing the experience. They were flexible with the itinerary, which could be customized to our individual preferences. I would consider them for my next

Umayal Muthiah-Profile

Umayal Muthiah

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

Pickyourtrail is simply the best! They gave us a competitive price for our recent trip, even with few customizations from their standard package. The most impressive part was their attention to detail they noticed a minor passport damage in time, which helped us get a new one issued and make the trip without trouble. Big thanks to our trip advisor Sharon (also the sales team Sneha, Finance team Yashila) for ensuring everything promised was arranged perfectly. The whole trip was smooth, well-organized, and truly memorable. Highly recommend Pickyourtrail!

Mitesh Obhan-Profile

Mitesh Obhan

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

This was my first international trip and I wanted it to be a special and exciting one. Pick your trail made sure that they dont disappoint me in any sense. I was on my honeymoon and had an amazing experience at the resort and the services by you guys! Gunjan from the sales team guided really well with the properties and the itinerary. I appreciate her honesty and her patience all throughout. Highly recommended!

Lina Ann Oommen-Profile

Lina Ann Oommen

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

I had a wonderful experience partnering with Pick Your Trail on my first trip with them. A special shout-out to Ashwin, who was my main point of contact throughout the journey. He was incredibly reliable, friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction. The app is user-friendly and provides timely reminders and updates on what needs to be done at each stage of the trip. However, there is some room for improvement in the handover process between the sales and customer service teams. Overall, it was a memorable holiday, and Im grateful to the entire team for making it so seamless!

Hansini Vaddey-Profile

Hansini Vaddey

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

Excellent Trip Planning and Support.A Truly Hassle-Free Experience! I recently booked a trip with Pickyourtrail, and I must say the entire experience was smooth and extremely well-managed right from the planning stage to the final day of the trip. A special thanks to Nitin Kalyan, who assisted us not just during the initial planning phase but was also constantly available throughout the trip, something you dont usually see from sales teams after booking! Their 24/7 support system was excellent. Any minor or major issue was resolved quickly. The support chat team Rahul, Sandhya, Naveen, and Aakash, were incredibly helpful and responsive. We did faced an issue with one of the hotel accommodations, but once we reported it, the team understood our concern and promptly arranged a new hotel that met our expectations. Minor issues are part of every travel, but thanks to Pickyourtrails excellent support, everything was resolved quickly, making our trip seamless and unforgettable The local arrangements were also excellent. We had a friendly, English-speaking guide and a professional driver, both of whom added to the overall comfort and enjoyment of the trip. Overall, I highly recommend Pickyourtrail for anyone looking for a well-organized and stress-free travel experience. Their customer-first approach, real-time support, and reliable execution truly made our trip memorable!

Ananya Hazarika-Profile

Ananya Hazarika

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

Thank You @Pick Your Trail team for the amazing experience and availablity on support.It was so much relief to be notified always and on time responses.Especially would like to mention Manoj for arranging cake on my Birthday, facilitated by UHG group hotels.It was a heart warming gesture ,also thank the entire support team,Keerthana and Vaishnavi: Hyd team.please assign names whoever has worked on support and itenerary planning,sales everyone !! Would definitely recommend to friends and family

Melvin Joseph-Profile

Melvin Joseph

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

Very reliable and supportive, I had forgotten to take my wallet to make payments for one of our activities and was stressed out, but the team managed it very smoothly. The salesperson Pooja and support team Sandhya were very accommodating and helpful throughout this trip. Highly recommended service if you want a hassle free experience.

Achuth Mallya-Profile

Achuth Mallya

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

They planned our trip to Maldives this month, everything went as expected. I found their prices to be reasonable, compared to other large operators. The tour planner (Punith) was very patient considering the change in dates and our requirements. I really like the post sales team as well, they explained the entire sequence of events. Their app has a checklist of things to pack, currency conversion, docs required for visa, local weather information etc. They were available on the app for support throughout the trip via chat. They upgraded our room, which came as a surprise. I am looking forward to planning future trips with them. All the best team, continue the good work so far.

Pragya Kundu-Profile

Pragya Kundu

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

Great and hesslfree experience with PYT. Specially first contact person or sales person was so helpful.. Whenever I feel any doubt or anything to ask, he always help me and rply me on time..

Praveen Kumar-Profile

Praveen Kumar

Reviewed on: 12 Apr 2026

I have booked two holidays with PYT with the most recent being a couple of days old. Overall I am pleased with the way things turned out. The holidays were fantastic, well taken care of with no major hiccups (fingers-crossed). But there are a few things that need to be addressed by the team (I had also emailed this when we first engaged with them, but saw the same issues in the second booking). I am breaking this review into 3 parts for ease of information. 1. Presales: Before finalizing and making the payment, the presales experience has been amazing. We had to go through a couple of people before we found someone who understood our requirements extremely well (sadly she is no longer with PYT). Very clear communication, prompt handling of queries and timely responses. 2. Post Sales / After Finalizing / After Booking: This is where things go crazy. No coordination between teams. No clear communication at all. I had to ask for information repeatedly across multiple channels - app support, email, WhatsApp and yet the response/resolution would be very slow. At times, we had multiple people assigned to our travel plan who had no idea of what was happening. We had to explain the same thing multiple times. The PYT app, at this stage, is useless. It does not get updated nor it shows up-to date information. The timelines that the app shows are incorrect with the team working on their own timelines. Until the vouchers, flight tickets and visa are received, you are literally praying everything happens properly as you do not get any update from the PYT team. Just like a government office, you have to keep asking on what is happening and get an updated timeline. 3. On Trip: Fortunately, the on trip experience has been very good. Only in the first holiday, we had a minor issue but we were able to sort it out with the local agents. The local team sends a reminder via WhatsApp on the itinerary and pick up times. They are also reachable via calls for any urgent queries. Overall: Overall the experience has been good. We will book again via PYT but I hope that the post sales and before trip issues are sorted out and there is clear communication / timelines.

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